your first bonsai

Starting your first bonsai tree is the first step of a satisfying process for a beginning grower.The amount of effort you can put into growing your bonsai, whether you will grow it inside oroutdoors, and the maturity of your first tree are three important things you will want toconsider as you plan to cultivate your first tree.

How much effort do you want to put in?Think about how much time you have to spend on the basic care of your growing plant. Youwill want to allow sufficient time for mindful and frequent observation of your tree. Keepinga bonsai healthy means keeping an eye on a few key things.Since the tree grows in a shallow dish, the soil can dry out fast. You will need to monitorthe soil regularly to maintain proper moisture.As you get to know your bonsai, you’ll need to monitor its health. Through close andcareful observation of the tree, you’ll learn to spot any scars or blemishes on the skin thatrequire your attention. You will need to spend time making careful corrective actions, suchas repositioning branches or wire.As a beginner, you’ll be eager to spend more time on the process as you watch your bonsairespond to your care, so make sure you allow for plenty.

Will you be growing Indoor or outdoor bonsai?Are you going to grow an indoor or outdoor bonsai? Knowing the true difference betweenthe two is helpful, as many people have a misconception as to what the terms really mean.Indoor trees.Typically, an indoor bonsai means a more tropical species that will likely require certainadjustments to the environment in order to do well. You’ll want to consider this when itcomes to selecting the right indoor plant for you. Tropical bonsai need intense light fora significant number of hours each day, so where you place the container is animportant factor. A bright spot near a southward-facing spot is ideal. But even in areaswith a sunny, southern exposure, artificial light is often needed to bring the intensity upto sufficient levels for bonsai to thrive. It probably goes without saying that tropicalplants need warmer temperatures, as well, so adjusting heating conditions will beessential.{INSERT PICTURES OF EXAMPLES on Amazon}Ficus, Jade and Fukien Tea trees are a few examples of popular indoor bonsai, but thereare many more.

Learn more about indoor bonsai trees [INSERT LINK to read more on our “indoor bonsaipage”}.

Outdoor trees:Temperate trees that go through a yearly growth cycle and require a dormancy period inorder to prepare for those cycles are outdoor trees. Be sure to consider the conditionswhere you live in order to choose a bonsai that can thrive in that particular environment.Certain varieties have sensitivities to intense heat or light; others shouldn’t be subjected tofrost conditions. Be sure to read up and understand what outdoor bonsai will do best in theclimate where you live.Some examples of outdoor bonsai include gardenia, Chinese elm and dawn redwood. Learnmore about outside bonsai here. [INSERT LINK to read more on our “outdoor bonsaipage”}.

{Insert pictures and examples at Amazon}

What are you going to start with?Now that you know what type of bonsai you wish to grow, you can choose the form or leveland maturity level of the beginner tree that you are going to work with. Think about thelevel of effort you are going to dedicate to the process as you decide. There are a handfulof options for starting a bonsai – three to be exact. You might begin with a pre-made bonsai scapeA pre-made bonsai scape is a pre-potted tree in a container-garden environment, suchas you might find in a nursery or flower shop. The plant is already aesthetically arrangedin the pot and soil mediums in which it is intended to initially live. The shaping processhas already been started and the tree has already been partially trained. As the newowner, you will take over this process, continuing to shape and direct the bonsai as itmatures.Your pre-made bonsai scape will continue to develop as you continue to sculpt and carefor it. There may be an advantage to working with a tree that is already accustomed tobeing pruned and tied. But a new bonsai gardener might want the learning experienceof participating in the training process. Keep that in mind when choosing your startermaterial.

Learn more about pre-made bonsai scapes here [INSERT LINK to read more on our “pre-made bonsai scapes page”}.{INSERT examples with pics and links to them on amazon)

 Another starter option is a pre-bonsai treePre-bonsai is a young tree that’s already growing and ready to train. Part of your jobwill be to give this young tree a new home, in an appropriate shallow container and soilmedium. As its first and primary trainer, your care and devotion is critical to thedevelopment of the young tree, as well as to the development of your skill and ability asa bonsai grower. Click {insert link to “pre made bonsai scape page} to learn more aboutgrowing prebonsai.Make sure you have the proper materials and techniques for sculpting and positioningyour plant, which will involve three basic things: pruning, wiring and repotting. Click thelinks to learn more about caring for your bonsai. [LINKS]

[insert three examples and links on Amazon]

 Your third starter option is to begin your bonsai tree from seed.Growing a tree from seed to shoot to a tree that is ready to form and train asbonsai is a longer and more involved process than the previous options that arementioned. As a beginner, this is where the learning curve will be at its greatest,as the steps involved in raising a tree from a seed require a greater length oftime and know-how. All of this must occur before getting to the process ofsculpting the actual tree. Study up on the process before getting started. Youcan learn more here trees [INSERT LINK to read more on our “pre bonsai scapepage”}.As you know, bonsai is a process and a journey, rather than a destination. Ittakes take a few years to successfully grow a seed into a tree that you can sculpt,and the growth is part of the process. [INSERT LINK to read more on our“premade bonsai page”}. In the meantime, you can make sure that yourfundamental knowledge of the art is solid. Learn more about growing andnurturing a bonsai here. [insert LINK)

Whether you choose to grow an indoor or outdoor bonsai, and whether youstart with a premade bonsai scape, a starter tree, or to grow a tree from seed,there is so much you can learn and gain from caring for a bonsai.